Microsoft Goes After the Wallet

Microsoft has decided to follow Apple and Google by trying to digitize customers’ wallets.

At an event for developers about its upcoming Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system, Microsoft said the software will support near-field communications, or NFC, a wireless technology used for digital-payments systems. It’s also including a new wallet program that will rely upon mobile operators for information such as credit and debit cards and loyalty and membership cards.

“The goal is to replace the physical wallet in your pocket,” said Joe Belfiore, a manager in the Windows Phone team. “It’s the most complete wallet experience.”

Google, which began its Google Wallet service last year, had most of the information on specialized chips in the phone. Some mobile operators didn’t like that because customers would want to move their information from one device to the next, so the operators disabled the software as a result. Microsoft said that by working with operators, it should avoid those issues.

Microsoft says it is teaming up with France’s Orange for the wallet feature among other expected mobile operators. Microsoft also says that, like Apple’s new “Passbook” app, its wallet program will integrate with airline ticket programs, movie tickets and coupons.